Way of Saving Costs in Connection with Grinding and Means for That

ABSTRACT

Ways of providing efficient and cost-saving grinding of floors or of other similar surfaces by a grinding machine having replaceable grinding tools are disclosed. On an operator&#39;s console of the grinding machine, a number of parameters according to which the grinding machine is desired to operate are selected. Obtained measured values are fed back from the grinding machine via a control center to the operator&#39;s console, the grinding speed of the tools being arranged, via the operator&#39;s console, to be adjusted manually or that the same is automatically adjusted. Information about the wear of the tools is given to the operator&#39;s console from measuring members for the measurement. Apparatus implementing the ways are also disclosed.

The present invention concerns a way of providing efficient and cost-saving grinding of floors or of other similar substrata and surfaces by a grinding machine having replaceable grinding tools.

The object of grinding or treating floors or other surfaces comparable thereto by means of grinding machines is to prepare said surfaces with a new surface layer or be polished by said machines in several steps up to completed surface. This is achieved by means of rotating discs, which are provided with replaceable tools, for instance grinding tools of the known type intended for different materials, and which are to be machined according to previously well-known technique. Difficulties in using such machines are primarily which types of tools that should be used for different substrata, material of the substratum, and hardness of the substratum and its surface layer. The fact is that this is not easy to select properly, which results in economic loss upon incorrect selections.

By SE 536101 C2, a grinding device is previously known, which concerns a control system (19) having a control program (24) for the speed of rotation of abrasive discs (14) and an identification system (16, 17) for data for the abrasive members (14) and transfer of said data to the control system. More precisely, said known system is arranged to sense what type of grinding tool that is placed on the machine and in such a way, via a control, to set the speed optimally for the tool in question. However, this means that the operator in spite of all has to know in advance which grinding tool that should be used for the purpose in question.

The known technique only shows that the obtained measurement result can be displayed on an operator's console. However, not that this would have any central role for the control or about that thereby there would be obtained information and recommendation to select a certain grinding tool for optimal grinding on the substratum.

US 2008/0155402 A1 and US 2012/0028543 A1 concern grinding machines having means for controlling grinding depth and to use said obtained values for certain purposes.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is primarily to solve among others the above-mentioned problems in a simple, reliable, and efficient way.

Said object is achieved by means of a way according to the present invention, which essentially is characterized in that, on an operator's console of the grinding machine in question, it is allowed to select a number of parameters according to which the grinding machine is desired to operate, that—in order to assist the machine operator in selecting the correct necessary parameters for the work desired to be carried out in as good and economically advantageous a way for the user as possible, and in selecting the correct type of grinding tool for the surface desired to be machined, i.e., for different types of substrata, hardness of the surface layer, etc.—on the operator's console before the running, there is activated which grinding tool that is intended to be utilized and the nature of the substratum, e.g. concrete, that is intended to be machined, that information is obtained from measuring members and sensors about the wear of the tools and/or the remaining service life thereof after which the grinding speed is manually or automatically adjusted according to obtained measured values, which are fed back to the operator's console via a control centre, that obtained measured values are fed back from the grinding machine via said control centre to said operator's console and that information about the wear of the tools is given to the operator's console from said measuring members for said measurement.

The present invention also concerns means for the implementation of said way of providing efficient and cost-saving grinding of floors or of other similar substrata and surfaces by a grinding machine having replaceable grinding tools.

Said object is achieved by means according to the present invention, which essentially is characterized in that, on an operator's console, there is arranged a series of pictures of existing grinding tools which may come to be utilized and the nature of the substratum that is desired to be ground and hardness of existing tools, that on the grinding machine in question, a control centre is supported for the receipt of actual measured values and adjustable values for the grinding work in question, that measuring members, which, for instance, are formed of laser sensors, analog inductive gauges, or other similar sensors for thickness determination, measure the wear/thickness of the grinding tools, transmit the information to the control centre, for the forwarding to the operator's console about the result of the measurement, and with the option of selection on operator's console by the machine operator concerning desired properties and/or operation of the grinding tools and/or the grinding machine.

According to the present invention, the machine asks and the operator answers what type of grinding that is concerned and of the nature and kind of the intended grinding surface. In such a way, the machine recommends a suitable grinding tool and having a certain hardness of the surface in question of the floor intended to be ground.

During operation, the machine also senses if the tool is worn, i.e., decreases its height at correct pace, and may also display this on the operator's console therefor.

The invention is described below by way of a number of preferred embodiment examples, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view of a floor grinding machine having means according to the invention included for the implementation of a way according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows the proper technical means for the implementation of the object and the purpose of the invention, and

FIGS. 3-4 show examples of gauges included in said means.

The objective of the present invention is to assist the machine operator in selecting the correct tool and parameters necessary therefor for the work desired to be carried out in as good and economically advantageous a way for the user as possible. The difficulty in using said machines is to a large extent lying in selecting the correct type of grinding tool for the surface desired to be machined, i.e., for different types of substrata, hardness of the surface layer, etc. It is namely very easy to use the wrong type of tool and then the risk is great that the economy does not become as desired but that it will be an economic loss. If one begins with the wrong kind of grinding tool and then it turns out that the result does not become the intended one as desired, the fact is that all tools of the machine in question will have to be replaced simultaneously, which becomes an unnecessary cost.

According to the invention, an operator's console may be arranged for suggesting, among other things, suitable tools which should be utilized for the intended work to be carried out. Above all, it is important to fast and safely be able to give a feedback about if the operator has selected the correct tool for the intended work being carried out. This can be achieved by a number of points being measured via sensors and power output and then compiling the obtained information to find out if the correct tool has been selected and utilized. This intended result, operators should be able to observe in an operator's console of the machine. Also information for determining the correct speed for the selected grinding tool, the wear of the tools, the suitable speed of motion of the machine along the floor and being able to inform if the current wear of the tools are intended to be able to be provided with the purpose of maintaining as good overall economy as possible with the work.

A way of providing efficient and cost-saving grinding of substrata 1 such as floors or other similar surfaces of stone, wood, concrete, etc., by means of a grinding machine 2, which preferably is advanced manually and which has a plurality of replaceable grinding tools 3 of the known type and which are provided with diamond grains, etc., embedded in an adhesive therefor, comprises that the measurement is simplified and automatized and the selection is made easy and reliable. More precisely, it is allowed to select, on an operator's console 4 of the grinding machine 2 in question, a number of parameters according to which the grinding machine 2 is desired to operate. Obtained measured values are fed back from the grinding machine 2 via a control centre 5 of the grinding machine 2 to said operator's console 4, the grinding speed of the tools 3 being arranged to be adjusted manually via the operator's console 4. Alternatively, said grinding speed may be adjusted automatically. Information about the wear of the tools is also arranged to be given to the operator's console 4 from measuring members for said measurement.

On the operator's console 4, it is allowed to select between manual or automatic running and information about the running is obtained from measuring members 6-8 and sensors which, among other things, measure the wear of the tools 3 and/or the remaining service life thereof after which, by means of obtained measured values, the grinding speed manually or automatically may be adjusted and which measured values and results obtained thereby are fed back to the operating console 4 via the control centre 5. On the operating console 4, before the running, there is activated which grinding tool 3 that is intended to be utilized and also indicated the nature of the substratum 1 intended to be machined, e.g., floor of concrete, wood, etc., after, e.g., scratch test of the substratum. Also information about optimal grinding speed for the selected substratum 1 and selected grinding tool 3 or another machining tool and about the optimal advancement of the machine 2 is arranged to be indicated on the operator's console 4. By allowing measurement of the power output of the motor 9 of the machine and comparison with the wear from sensors 6 therefor, the selection of the correct tool 3 and the remaining time until replacement of tool 3 is determined.

Means for the implementation of a way mentioned above comprises the following:

On the grinding machine 2 in question, a control centre 5 is supported for the receipt of actual measured values and adjustable values from the grinding work in question, and that an operator's console 4, with the option of selection upon by the machine operator concerning desired properties and/or operation of the grinding tools 3 and/or the grinding machine 2, is connected to said control centre 5. Measuring members 6 for measuring the wear/remaining thickness of the grinding tools 3 and which are arranged to be formed of laser sensors, analog inductive gauges, or other similar sensors for thickness determination are arranged for providing forwarding to the operator's console 4 about the measurement. On said operator's console 4, there may be arranged a series of pictures of existing grinding tools which may come to be utilized and the nature of the substratum 1 that is desired to be ground, etc., and hardness of existing tools 3.

By means of measuring members 6-8 in the form of sensing devices 6, 7, 8 and sensors of the motor 9, wheels 10, and/or grinding tools 3 of the machine are arranged to measure the power output of the motor 9, the speed of rotation of the wheels 10 of the machine and the wear of the grinding tools. Thereby, there are obtained basic data of the grinding speed and operation of the machine in the forward direction S and the nature of the tools, as well as the remaining machining time of the substratum 1.

To display the speed V forward S of the machine and to display the wear of the grinding tools 3, respectively, a scale 11, 12 is arranged on the operator's console 4 of the machine. Standard values of the same are indicated on said scale 11, 12.

According to manual function, the machine operator obtains, when the grinding machine 2 is started up, a selection via the operator's console 4 if he/she desires to operate manually using simple feedback and with warning function upon excessive wear of the grinding tools 3, or information via sensor 6 about when the grinding tools 3 are finished and should be replaced. For instance, an analog sensor is selected, which continuously measures the wear, thickness of the grinding tool and which is fed back to the operator's console via a control centre 5 in the form of a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). Thereby, the operator himself/herself can select the suitable grinding speed of the grinding tools 3.

According to automatic function, the operator himself/herself can, by means of a series of pictures, not shown in the drawings, on the operator's console 4 before the running, activate on said series of pictures which grinding tool 3 that will be used and the approximate nature of the concrete or another substratum 1 desired to be machined. This determination of the hardness of the substratum 1 may be carried out by a scratch test according to Mohs hardness test. By means of this information, it can be told which hardness of the adhesive that the grinding tool is composed of together with diamonds. There are some tens of different hardnesses of the adhesive in which the proper diamonds are contained. This is then clearly displayed on the operator's console 4.

Furthermore, it is also possible to assist in determining the most optimal grinding speed for the selected substratum 1 and grinding tool 3. Thereby, it will be possible to set the optimal advancement of the machine by measuring the speed of rotation of the wheels 10 of the machine via sensor 8, something which also is displayed clearly in the operator's console 4. By measuring the power output of the motor using measuring member 7 and comparing with the wear from sensors for the tools 3, it is possible to determine if the operator has selected the correct hardness of the tool 3 or if these should be replaced and to which proposed hardness in order to get a more optimal grinding. It is then also possible to be able to display on the operator's console 4 how long time there is left before the tool 3 needs to be replaced.

Project Operator's Console

Functional description. Display on the operator's Signal console. 6 Distance measurement wear. Analog sensor mounted on the chassis that measures the distance to motor housing. 7 Speed of grinding tool, power Frequency control. consumption. 8 Speed of wheels, displays the Simple inductive sensor correct speed on the mounted to read speed of operator's console. wheels. Functions that are Controlled Via the Operator's Console:

Desired rotational speed and direction of rotation is controlled via the operator's console.

General Functional Description:

Upon start of the machine, the operator will receive a number of selections where he/she easily can click what should be ground, e.g. concrete finishing & polishing or pulling-down and renovation. Furthermore, there is also a possibility of setting, via a said hardness test, exact hardness of the concrete to be ground. Furthermore, there will be a number of selections of segments that may be used e.g., black, blue, green, with pictures of said grinding tool.

The optimal speed of the motor can be set, but which of course is possible to superordinate by manual button pressing.

The optimal speed of the propulsion of the machine, i.e., how fast one should advance, is displayed on the operator's console 4. Feedback comes from the sensor 8, which reads the speed of the wheel, for instance there is applied a counting pulse of, e.g., 20 pulses per revolution to obtain a good feedback.

Other Information that should be Displayed on the Operator's Console:

For wear of grinding tools, it is possible to set out from a warning being presented or simply that the machine operation is interrupted when the tool is finished and it then becomes the 0 position. Since different tools vary, it is most interesting to observe the proper wear. It is possible to calculate the optimal wear of the selected tool, and if it is worn too fast, a warning will emerge on the operator's console. There will also emerge a warning in case the tool is not worn sufficiently fast. This in order to get as optimized a tool as possible and as quick a grinding as possible. This may be effected using a combination of measuring the wear via the sensor and measuring the current consumption of the grinding wheel motor.

Current consumption is shown in the form of a scale. Furthermore, all malfunctions should emerge on the operator's console. Most preferably, it is preferred that a picture of the machine is displayed and that the malfunction is symbolized as a flashing marking where the active malfunction is located, e.g. flashing current input indicating that there is something wrong with the feed.

Display of the total number of operation hours and the number of metres of ground surface.

In operation, all data are logged, which later can be utilized to optimize the machine further.

Function and nature of the invention should have been clearly understood from the above-mentioned and also with knowledge of what is shown in the drawings but the invention is naturally not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an equivalent technique, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims. 

1.-7. (canceled)
 8. A method of providing efficient and cost-saving grinding of surfaces by a grinding machine having replaceable grinding tools, comprising: on an operator's console of the grinding machine, selecting a number of parameters according to which the grinding machine is desired to operate; in order to assist an operator in selecting correct necessary parameters and a grinding tool for a surface to be machined, indicating on the operator's console before running the grinding machine which grinding tool is to be utilized and a nature of the surface to be machined; obtaining information from measuring members and sensors about wear of the replaceable grinding tools and/or remaining service life thereof and manually or automatically adjusting a grinding speed based on obtained information; feeding obtained information back from the grinding machine via a control center to the operator's console; and providing information about wear of the replaceable grinding tools to the operator's console from the measuring members.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting parameters on the operator's console includes selecting between manual running and automatic running of the grinding machine.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein information about optimal grinding speed for the surface to be machined and selected grinding tool and about optimal advancement of the grinding machine is also provided on the operator's console.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein by measuring a power output of a motor of the grinding machine and comparing with wear from sensors therefor of the replaceable grinding tools, a correct grinding tool and a time remaining until replacement of the correct grinding tool are determined.
 12. An apparatus for implementing the method of claim 8, comprising: an operator's console having arranged thereon a series of pictures of grinding tools that can be used, surfaces to ground, and hardnesses of the grinding tools; a control center on the grinding machine configured to receive measured values and adjustable values for grinding the surface to be machined; and measuring members configured to measure wear and/or thickness of the replaceable grinding tools and to transmit measured information to the control center for forwarding to the operator's console.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of sensing devices measure a power output of a motor of the grinding machine, a speed of rotation of wheels of the grinding machine, and wear of the replaceable grinding tools, whereby a grinding speed, advancement of the grinding machine, conditions of the replaceable grinding tools, and remaining machining time are obtained.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the operator's console includes a scale that displays wear of the replaceable grinding tools and advancement speed of the grinding machine.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the measuring members include a laser sensor and/or an analog inductive gauge for thickness determination.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the operator's console is configured for selecting properties and/or operation of the replaceable grinding tools. 